Morbid obesity -- a body mass index of 40 or more -- increases the risk of arthritis, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. In fact, morbid obesity causes 400,000 deaths each year, making it the second highest cause of preventable deaths in the United States after smoking, according to the Surgical Specialists of Louisiana. Losing 100 or more pounds of excess weight requires a long-term commitment to increasing physical activity, addressing emotional eating issues, and following a safe diet plan.
Balanced Diet
To lose one pound a week, you need to create a calorie deficit of at least 500 calories per day by exercising more, eating less or both. Losing two pounds a week requires a deficit of 1,000 calories per day. To maintain health during weight loss, follow a plan that requires eating from all of the different food groups every day in prescribed amounts. For example, the Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid plan recommends eating an unlimited amount of fruits and vegetables, the base of the pyramid; four to eight servings of carbohydrates, the next layer of the pyramid; limiting protein and dairy, the next layer, to between three and seven servings; fats to between three and five servings; and sweets, at the tip of the pyramid, to no more than 75 calories a day. Generally, the plan allows between 1,000 to 1,600 calories per day, producing a steady weight loss.
Very Low Calorie Diet
A very low-calorie diet limits intake to no more than 800 calories a day, resulting in a more rapid weight loss of about three to five pounds per week, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Patients drink specially formulated liquids that replace all food consumption for several weeks or months under medical supervision. Appropriate only for obese patients with a BMI of 30 or higher, a very low-calorie diet may produce weight loss of about 44 pounds in 12 weeks, enough to reduce symptoms of high blood pressure, diabetes and other obesity-related diseases. However, very low calorie diets do not produce better long-term results than more moderate plans.
High Protein Low Carbohydrate Plan
The Atkins and South Beach diets, among others, theorize that carbohydrates cause blood sugar imbalances and weight gain, according to MayoClinic.com. The plans, however, allow liberal amounts of fat and protein, which may cause problems in people with liver or kidney disease, says Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D. Although probably safe in the short-term, morbidly obese patients may develop nutritional deficiencies if they use these plans for long periods of time.
Fad Diets
Fad diets promise rapid weight loss by eating or drinking large amounts of a single food such as grapefruit, lemonade or cabbage soup to the exclusion of other foods. Many advocate taking pills or supplements while on the plan, according to MayoClinic.com. The plan may work for a short time, but not long enough to maintain weight loss because the patient does not learn to change habits that contribute to weight gain.
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